Rock M Pick ‘Em: Week 3
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
It’s GAME DAY, and happy Week 3 of the College Football season! Mizzou actually plays their first Saturday game of the year in their final non-conference game against Sun Belt opponent Troy. SEC play gets underway in full swing, plus SMU at Louisville and LSU at Ole Miss highlight the ranked matchups of the day. Let’s make some picks! (Odds provided by our partners over at FanDuel Sportsbook).
But first, a standings recap after Week 2:
Stava: 10-4
Gustafson: 9-5
Matejka: 10-4
Lewis: 7-2
Hurst: 2-2
No. 20 Missouri Tigers (-26.5) vs Troy Trojans (6:00 p.m. CST on SEC Network+) — Does Mizzou cover?
Sammy Stava: There’s a scenario where Mizzou could start off slow. Coming off the Border War win — they could already be looking ahead to SEC play. Though, Eli Drinkwitz will have the boys ready for this one against a decent Troy team. Missouri easily takes care of business. 42-10, Tigers.
Matthew Gustafson: Chip Lindsey will have some extra incentive to put points on the board Saturday against the team he once led, and his offense faces a Troy defense that lost many of its top players from last season. I’m going to make a bold prediction and say the Tigers put up their highest total of any game so far, as they’ll be less inclined to pull starters out of the game as early as they did in the season opener. Mizzou wins big, 59-21.
Josh Matejka: Mizzou’s offense has been pretty sterling so far, and a depleted Trojans defense won’t be able to stop them. With the run game getting back to top form, I’d expect the Tigers to run rampant. Mizzou rolls 55-17.
Jaden Lewis: One more game before SEC play, and the easiest opponent the Tigers will face for the rest of the season. Mizzou has won its last two against Troy (2005 and 2019), and this shouldn’t be a repeat of 2004. The Tigers’ passing attack is clicking right now, and that shouldn’t change this weekend with the best uniforms this team has worn in a long time. Mizzou wins 43-21.
Nathan Hurst:
No. 16 SMU Mustangs at No. 23 Louisville Cardinals (-1.5) (2:30 p.m. CST on ESPN2)
Sammy Stava: Louisville looked pretty good in their season opener against Ole Miss despite the loss. Ohio State transfer quarterback Lincoln Keinholz is impressive. Give me the Cardinals at home in a high scoring affair, 35-31 UL.
Matthew Gustafson: SMU squeaked by an unconvincing Florida State squad in Tallahassee two weeks ago in its season opener using a last-minute field goal. This week, they have to face a Louisville team that impressed against Ole Miss and has home field advantage. Give me the Cards, 28-24.
Josh Matejka: Louisville has looked better than I would have guessed so far, and they’ve got the home edge over an SMU team that has looked worse than I would have guessed. I think the Cards cover, but barely – 24-20.
Jaden Lewis: If this game were in Texas, I’d lean towards the Mustangs, but L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium is an underrated stadium in college football. Louisville nearly beat Mississippi and also beat a top-25 FCS team,, Villanova, by 46 points. I have Jeff Brohm’s Cardinals winning 27-17.
Nathan Hurst:
Mississippi State Bulldogs at South Carolina Gamecocks (-3.5) (3:15 p.m. CST on SEC Network)
Sammy Stava: It’s a good quarterback matchup between Kamario Taylor and LaNorris Sellers. While the Bulldogs are a much-improved program trending in the right direction under Jeff Lebby — I don’t see them stringing together back-to-back road wins. South Carolina is in a pivotal year under Shane Beamer, and they desperately need to win this one at home. Give me the Gamecocks, 24-20.
Matthew Gustafson: I’m buying into the Mississippi State hype after an impressive first two weeks powered by Kamario Taylor. Do I expect the Bulldogs to seriously threaten for a spot in the top half of the SEC? No. But they’re going to be a much tougher squad than many expected. That being said, I think that people forget sometimes just how good LaNorris Sellers is, and I’ll take his experience in this battle. Gamecocks win, 27-24.
Josh Matejka: It’s hard to win on the road in SEC play, especially when you’re going up against a team with a good QB. And as impressive as Kamario Taylor has been, I don’t think Mississippi State has the experience needed to snatch its first road scalp. Give me the Gamecocks, 31-21.
Jaden Lewis: This is an awesome matchup at the quarterback position. LaNorris Sellers has been a top quarterback in the SEC for quite some time, while Kamario Taylor ripped Minnesota apart last Sunday. This game is in Columbia (SC), so I lean towards the Gamecocks in a close one – 35-31.
Nathan Hurst:
Florida Gators (-2.5) at Auburn Tigers (6:00 p.m. CST on ESPN)
Sammy Stava: This should be an evenly matched game between two first year head coaches. Auburn is the more battle tested team with the win over Baylor on a neutral site to open the season. With this game at Jordan-Hare, give me Byrum Brown and the Tigers — 17-13.
Matthew Gustafson: Night games at Jordan-Hare are no joke, as Mizzou was reminded last season. Auburn has also has the win over Baylor, as Sammy mentioned, while Florida has faced Florida Atlantic and Campbell. I’ll take the Tigers in a close one, 21-17.
Josh Matejka: Florida has looked pretty stout under Jon Sumrall, but Auburn at home is different gravy. Even if they’re not prime Auburn, it’s a tall task for anyone. Give me the Tigers in a nail-biter, 21-20.
Jaden Lewis: Florida hasn’t played any tough competition, but they are 2-0 under Jon Sumrall, with one of the best running backs in the nation, Jadan Baugh, who is averaging 10.6 yards per carry so far in the young season. Alex Golesh did some wonderful things at USF and squeaked past Baylor, while defeating Southern Miss. This game is in Auburn, but I think Baugh helps carry the Gators to victory, 22-15.
Nathan Hurst:
No. 7 LSU Tigers at No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: Ole Miss fans have circled this game on the calendar ever since Lane Kiffin took the LSU job. This should be an insane atmosphere in Oxford. Will it be too much hype for the Rebels to handle? Maybe, but Trinidad Chambliss outplays Sam Leavitt at the quarterback position for the difference in this one. 28-24, Rebs.
Matthew Gustafson: Saturday night in Oxford is going to be one of the most hostile (possibly to the point of being dangerous) atmospheres at a college football game in recent memory. I think LSU is the better team, but this one simply means too much for everyone at Ole Miss — coaches, players and fans included. I’ll take the Rebs, 31-27.
Josh Matejka: I have a feeling this is a game we’ll be watching documentaries about in 20 years or so. The context around it makes for delicious drama, and that’s before you even consider it’s a Top 10 in-conference match up. LSU has balled out so far, and I think they’re a CFP dark horse. But Ole Miss has way too much going for it this weekend, including an atmosphere that will probably trigger earthquakes. I think the Rebels find a way to send their old coach home with his head hung low – Ole Miss 27, LSU 21.
Jaden Lewis: Sam Leavitt is doubtful, and Lane Kiffin is returning to Oxford. Mississippi is going to be extremely motivated. Ole Miss 38-7.
Nathan Hurst:
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos